A/N: to the guest reviewer "sum angry dud" thank you! You're review was the epitome of praise. ;)
It should not have taken quite so much effort to refrain from laughing at him, Marlene chided herself. He had just poured his heart out to her, professed his love for her, and offered to be a dog for the rest of her life in order to be with her. She shouldn't be amused, he had no way of seeing what she saw, knowing that their destiny was each other, and that Fate had brought them together.
"Sirius, please get off the floor," she smiled down at him and gently tugged on his hands.
Sirius looked like he'd received his death sentence as he stood and Marlene couldn't help but take pity on him.
"Love," she smiled up at him as she snaked her arms around his neck, "is an excellent word for how I feel about you." She pulled him closer as his eyes widened. "Destiny, is another excellent word."
"Destiny?" He furrowed his brow.
"You, you are my destiny Sirius." She smiled up at him. "You and being the Instrument of Fate. I will not marry the mortal man my father chose. I have chosen to retain my powers. I have chosen you, if you'll have me. Should you be willing to accept all the insanity that being the Daughter of Fate entails, I want you by my side."
Sirius' lips crashed into hers and Marlene finally allowed herself to laugh as he kissed her and ran his hands over her.
"Is that a yes then?" She chuckled as he moved to kiss her neck.
"Let me think about it," Sirius smirked against her and Marlene smacked the back of his head.
"Such a temper, Miss Fate," he pulled back laughing and smiled down at her. "I'll walk the world with you."
Marlene really wanted to keep kissing him, but she was suddenly aware of a schedule they needed to keep. Apparently, accepting one's destiny was rewarded in all sorts of ways, some more enjoyable than others. She sighed as she denied herself of kissing him for the second time in 24 hours.
"Let's get the tributes home," she ran her hand along his face. "Then we can go find someplace to celebrate."
He smirked down at her, "That's an interesting term for it."
Marlene laughed and grabbed his hand, "Ever your father's son."
They came to the entrance where the guards were looking both shocked and confused at the Minotaur's lifeless form.
"Send for your sovereign," Marlene fell back into the cold character that Sirius had created for her.
One guard seemed to thank her for the opportunity to leave her presence and bolted. It wasn't long before Minos' was storming down to the maze entrance.
"Murderers!" He cried. "I will involve my father! You will have Zeus to answer to!"
Marlene was finished with him, "Minos, I grow tired of your tantrums! Shall I expose you to your Kingdom for the child you are? Do you dare tempt Fate?"
"My father is the king of the gods!" He stomped his foot.
"Come now, pet," Sirius made grapes grow over the dead Minotaur and snagged a bunch before leaning against Minos. "The Minotaur was a dreadful nasty toy. I'm sure we can find you a better one. Why don't you come back to Olympus with us and ask your Father Dear to come up with something a bit prettier. Perhaps a bit less smelly, as well. You can let King Aegeus know he doesn't have to send people or money to you anymore on the way, since we'll be dropping these lovely little mortals back to their families." Sirius bumped a grape against Minos' nose again and made the same boop noise he had before. "Doesn't that just warm your little heart, Minnie?"
Minos looked like he was going to scream. "I will do no such thing!"
Marlene sighed tiredly. "You will not stop us; you are about to find out exactly who is in control."
She turned to their group, "Let us return." She stalked past Minos and managed to hide her smile as Sirius gave him another kiss.
"You heard her pet, it's been fun but Fate is in charge you know, and I like living with my bowels inside my body."
Sirius walked up to her side and took her hand. "Don't ever let me play my father again," he whispered. "I'm starting to annoy myself."
"But you're so good at it," she teased him quietly.
"Rude!" He rolled his eyes.
Marlene led them to the docks, all the while Minos following after them screaming about how they wouldn't get away with this. Marlene smiled as she saw the sun crest over the horizon, he was about to find out why she was the more compassionate one to be cursed by.
The black ship was still harbored where it had been and as she approached, the sailors all stared at her from the deck, yelling for their shipmates and captain. She spotted the captain and called out to him. "We require passage back to Athens."
He sputtered.
"I forbid it!" Minos yelled.
"Minos," Marlene turned to face him with cold eyes. "My patience is at an end. This day, your Kingdom shall know you for the twisted insolent brat that you are. This day your skin shall decay and your bowels fail you, until the sun sets, all shall know your true nature!"
The change of leprosy was slow but his incontinence came immediately. Minos was now screaming for an entirely different reason. Marlene turned back to the captain.
"When do we leave captain?" She called up to him. He sputtered a moment before remembering how to speak.
"At once, Dreadful Daughter!" He saluted and called for the gangplank to be lowered.
"As soon as you find white sails," Marlene nodded and led their little group back onto the ship, "and enough food to feed the Athenian friends you are returning home."
Amazingly, the ships harbored next to theirs were more than willing to give their ship everything they needed and more to get them off the Island of Crete. They set sail within the hour and Marlene moved to stand near the stern of the ship, watching Crete disappear. She smiled as Sirius walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Is it later?" He pushed her hair aside to kiss her neck.
Marlene chuckled, "That depends upon the manner of celebration you're asking for, presently."
He hummed against her, "Right now I'll settle for this."
She spun in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Then it's later." And she kissed him.